Hitching-post



(No Model.)

E. J. SELLERS.

HITGHING PDST.

Patented Jan. 25, 1898.

/NVENTE A TTHNEYS.

f/ll'l//l/l//llllllllllilllllllllllll/ll UNITED STATES PATnNi1 trice@ HITCHlNG-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,017, dated January 25, 1898.

Application filed May l2, 1897. Serial No. 636,252. (No model.)

To all whom; zit may con/cern.'

Be it known that I, ELMER. J. SELLERS, of Kutztown, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Hitchin g-Post, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in hitching-posts of .that character which when not in use are dropped into chambers or recesses located below the level of the ground and may be raised from said chambers or recesses when required for use.4

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure l is a vertical section through the device, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section upon the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

The object of my invention is to provide a hitching-post which may be dropped below the surface of the ground when not in use and which may be conveniently elevated when its service is desired.

Another object is to construct the post in such a manner that the partial elevation of the post will be automatically accomplished by depressing or otherwise operating a trigger or catch, so as to make it unnecessary to stoop entirely to the ground in order to reach the post.

The casing A, which receives the post in its depressed position, I have shown as constructed of a metal pipe. This is a convenient and simple form of construction, although any suitable casing may be used instead. The casing is provided with a block A at its lower end and with guiding and supporting plates A2 and A3, one located a short distance below its upper end and the other at the upper end of the casing. The casing may alsol be provided with a box C, somewhat enlarged and terminating at the upper end of the casing. This box andthe casing are planted in the ground so that the upper edge of the box projects slightly above the surface or is practically level with the surface, as the circumstances may require.

The box G is provided with a cover C', hinged at C3 and having an arm ()2 projecting beyond the hinge. By pressing upon the arm C2 with the foot the cover will be raised and thrown back to a point where it will remain raised. This cover prevents the rain from getting inside the casing and rusting the post, so as to make it an undesirable object to handle. When the post is in its depressed position, the cover C is to remain down, and as it entirely covers the box C the rain cannot get inside the casing.

The post B is preferably made of an iron pipe andisprovided at its lower end. with a projecting collar b. The guiding and supporting platesA2 and A3 have circular openings adapted to iit closely about the post, but permitting the saine to slide vl'reely therein. The lower one, A2, in addition has an opening ct extending to one side and receiving the locking bar or catch I-I and the rod G, by which the post is released. The plate A3 is also provided with an opening through which the bar G may pass. This bar G extends from the box C along one side of the casing A through the opening in the plate A3 and through a guiding-staple g, located near the lower end of the casing. The lower end G of the bar G is offset, so as to engage the upper end of the locking-catch l?, pivoted at its lower end to the block A, which closes the lower end of the casing. Said catch is provided with a notch or projecting tooth f, adapted to engage the upper side of the collar b around the lower end of the post.

The upper'end of the catch F is bent to one side, having a cam-surface f', which may be engaged by the offset end G of the rod G, so that a depression of the rod G will throw the catch F back, so as to free the collar Z7.

The bar Il is adapted to lock the post in its upper position and is pivoted to the lower side of the plate A3, which closes the upper end of the casing A. This bar H extends through the slot o in the plate A2 and is provided with a projecting catch h upon its lower end, so located as to engage the lower side of the collar b when the post is raised to, its upper position. The collar ZJ will engage the lower side of the plate A2 and prevent the post from being raised higher than such point. The end of the bar H below the catch h is also sloped, so that the bar will be forced outward by the collar h when it is raised. When the post B has been raised so that the catch h engages the under side of the collar h, it will IOO be held in this position until the bar I-I is drawn backward. This is accomplished by means of an arm g', attached to the rod G. This arm extends about the inner surface of the arm II and engages the lower sloping portion of the arm to force the same backward when the rod G is depressed. This position is shown by dotted lines in Fig. l.

The catches F and` h are held toward the post by springs F and H. The rod G is elevated by means of a spring I, located above the plate A3 and Within the box C. The upper end of the rod G is provided with a button or head G2, against which the spring I presses and upon which the foot may be placed to depress the rod G and release the catches.

The upper end of the post B is provided with a ring R, to which the halter may be fastened. 'Within the hollow of the post B is a spirally-coiled spring E, which should be of considerable length in order that it may raise the post to some distance. This spring is preferably attached at its upper end to the post and is left free or unattached at its lower end. This construction, however, may be reversed, although that given is preferred. Vithin the central opening in the spiral spring is placed a rod D, which is attached at its lower end to the block A. This rod D acts as a guide for that portion ofthe spring which is outside the post and prevents its buckling.

The spring E is made of such a length and strength that it exerts a considerable lifting force upon the post when in its lowermost or locked position. As a consequence when the catch F is released the spring will be expanded. The spring preferably should be so adjustedthat it Will raise the post about eighteen inches above the surface of the ground. It might, however, be adjusted so as to raise the post even a greater distance. The upper end of the post will then be Where it may be easily reached without stooping to the ground and may be easily raised the rest-of its height. When the post is released from its upper position, it drops within the casing. The spring and the length of the casing may be so adjusted that the weight of the post will depress the spring enough so that the collar b will just engage under the catch F and the post be held in its depressed position. In case it will not do this the post may be easily depressed, either by hand or foot, until the collar is caught and held by the catch F. The

casing box and post may be placed just within the curb and so that the box C is flush with the pavement or projecting slightly above it.

The post may be elevated to a position where it is easily accessible by hand without stooping to the pavement. It is also thoroughly protected from the Weather, and its parts are not liable to become rusty and thus make it disagreeable to handle.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a bitching-post, the combination with a sunken or embedded tube, of a post slidable in said tube, means acting on said post to normally raise it in the tube and means for positively locking the post both in its raised and depressed positions, substantially as described.

2. In a bitching-post, the combination with f an embedded casing or tube, and guides within said tube, of a post slidable in said guides, means acting on said post to normally raise it in the tube, means for positively locking the post `in its lower position, and means extending to the surface for releasing it at will, substantially as described.

4. A hitching device, comprising a sunken casing, supporting-guides within the casing, a post slidable in said guides, means for locking the post in both its raised and lowered positions, and a spring for raising the post when released from its depressed position, substantially as described.

5. A hitching-post, comprising a sunken casing adapted to receive a post, supportingguides therein, a hollow post slidable in said guides, catches for retaining the post both in its raised and depressed positions, means for freeing said catches, and a spiral spring With- `in the hollow of thepost, acting to raise the `post when released from its depressed posi- `tion, substantially as described.

6. A hitching-post, comprising a sunken casing, supporting-guides therein, a hollow post slidable in said guides, catches for retaining the post in its raised and depressed positions, means for freeing said catches, a spiral-spring within the hollow of the post, acting to raise the post When released from its depressed position, and a guide fixed to the bottom of the casing and Within the coils of said spring, substantially as described.

7. A hitching device, comprising a sunken casing, a post slidable therein, catches for locking the post both in its raised and depressed positions, and a bar adapted to operate both catches to release the post, substan- Y IOO IIO

post acting to raise the saine when released from the depressed position, substantially as described.

l0. A hitchin g device, comprising a sunken casing, supporting-guides therein, a post slidable in said guides and having a projecting ring about its lower end, a spring-held catch engaging the upper side of said ring when the post is depressed, a spring-held catch engag ing the bottom of the post When elevated, a vertical bar engaging said catches to release them when depressed, and a spring for raising said bar, substantially as described.

l1. A bitching device, comprising asiinlen easing, supporting-guides therein, a post slidable in said guides and having a projecting ring about its lower end, a spring-held catch engaging the upper side of said ring when the post is depressed, a spring-held catch engaging the bottom of the post when elevated, a vertical barengaging said catches to release them when depressed, a spring for raising said bar, and a spring Within the post, acting to raise it from its depressed position when the lower catch'is released, substantially as described.

12. A hitching device, comprising a sunken casing, a post slidable therein, catches for locking the post in its elevated and depressed positions, and a spring adapted to check the post when dropped and to partially raise it when released, substantially as described.

13. A hitching device, comprising a sunken casing, a post slidable therein, catches for holding the post depressed, and a spring acting upon the post to raise it when released, substantially as described.

ELMER J. SELLERS.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES D. HERMAN, J. H. MARX. 

